Is the 747-8i going to be made of composite material like the 787. If it is going to be made of composite than what percent? If it isn't going to be composite than why not? Sorry if it's a dumb question.

Quoting Meta (Thread starter):Is the 747-8i going to be made of composite material like the 787. If it is going to be made of composite than what percent? If it isn't going to be composite than why not? Sorry if it's a dumb question.

The significant majority of the structure will be Aluminum, just as all previous 747s have been made of. There will be composites, and it is likely Boeing will seek to use more composites in the 747-8I then any previous 747 model, but will not be an appreciable increase.

Boeing has stated that by some use of composites and other measures the aircraft weigh/pax will be significatively lower.
The main diffrence regarding the B744 will be the incorporation of not composte related innovations of the B787, first of all the state-of-the art engines, which over all results in a wide reduction of the CASM.

Quoting Aminobwana (Reply 4):The main diffrence regarding the B744 will be the incorporation of not composte related innovations of the B787, first of all the state-of-the art engines, which over all results in a wide reduction of the CASM.

It will also use the 777 window belt design to provide larger windows than the 744 - unless that idea has changed.

Quoting ERAUgrad02 (Reply 6):Have they gotten the weight down some to get the added range close to what airlines want?

Not that I have heard, but MEW might not be the enemy here. All EK needs to do is put in a few dozen less seats in it (since they didn't want the extra 5m of length, anyway) and they'd have all the range they needed, plus a more comfortable experience for their Economy passengers. I certainly wouldn't mind flying in a 20" wide seat laid out 3+3+3 with 36" of pitch on an EK 747-8I. Especially compared to an 18" wide seat laid out 3+4+3 with 32" pitch on an EK A388.